When their parents dropped them off at the Casa Moderna Hotel in Miami last Sunday morning, it was clear that the 10 teens and tweens from Honey Shine — Tracy Wilson Mourning’s mentoring program for girls — were itching to learn exactly what happens at a passport party. Thanks to the passion of lifestyle blogger Tracey Friley who founded the Passport Party Project, the day was a special experience for everyone involved. And, the best part of it all? When the festivities ended, these budding travelistas received everything they’d need to send off for their very first passports.

It Starts With A Vision

After a brief introduction, the girls jumped right into the first activity with a single purpose in mind– discover their inner wanderlust and channel it in the form of suitcase-shaped vision boards. Enticed by international destinations like India, London, Jamaica and Brazil, and armed with travel-themed magazines, stickers and art supplies, the 10 chicas spent the morning dreaming in glitter-filled glory.

Strike A Pose

In between vision boards, playful contests and catered lunch, our travel divas spent a fair amount of time posing for the cameras. After all, you can’t apply for a passport without a photo. And, with feather boas, sarongs, beaded necklaces and Carnival masks in the vicinity, who would turn down a few spins through the Passport Party Project photo booth — even BrownGirlsFly couldn’t resist. (Yes, I AM proudly rocking that butterfly mask below.)

The Greatest Gift of All

Throughout the day, the girls were rewarded with great gifts. The winner of the best vision board received a cute hot-pink suitcase from eBags. As a volunteer, I even received a set of great eBags packing cubes, while some of the other girls won books, travel journals and soapstone art from Haiti.

But, as the afternoon drew to a close, a few girls still didn’t quite grasp that the big prize of the day was still outstanding. When Tracey passed out the envelopes filled with the passport application form, photos and a money order from Expedia covering the application fees — the girls were beyond excited. A visit with their parents to a passport office (or post office) and a few weeks later their key to the world will arrive.

Dream Big Dreams!

A project like this — women that travel helping to inspire the next generation of women that travel — is right up our BrownGirlsFly alley. We expected to enjoy the experience, but I don’t think we anticipated how much we’d love connecting with the girls.

Watching their travel dreams emerge and take flight that afternoon reminded us of our own travel beginnings and to be grateful for the opportunities we had to travel at a young age. It also reminded us that early exposure to the possibilities of the world, encouragement to pursue your dreams and learning from those who’ve gone the path before you — is often times the “perfect storm” for success. We are honored to have played a small role in that process for these young ladies in Miami, and we’ll be cheering for the Passport Party Project during the remaining 11 months, as Tracey and Expedia make their way to seven more cities.

To our new Miami friends and the other 90 girls who we’ve not yet met, we say … With big hugs and lots of BrownGirlsFly love, we welcome each of you into the travelista fold. Be sure to dream big dreams and pursue them relentlessly! We can’t wait to see you again — with passports in hand, a culturally-infused perspective on the world, and an arsenal of travel stories to share. And, never forget ….

Every great dream begins with a dreamer … you have within you the strength, the patience, and the passion to reach for the stars, to change the world.
–Harriet Tubman

About the Author

My obsession with culture, foreign languages, art & design, nature, sea animals, and good food means I am game to travel just about anywhere. From the beach to the mountains, an urban vibe to a sleepy little village, I am ready to go. My wanderlust, it seems, is insatiable. As they say, "Have Passport, Will Travel!"

What a fantastic recap! Thank you SO MUCH for taking the time to not just share your travel stories but to help inspire the next generation of travelistas. (I also appreciate the labor. That step and repeat is no joke. LOL) Your support and genuine caring means so much! XOXO

Thanks Tracey! We really had a great time. I hope the tour continues to go well 😉 When i found myself laying stomach down on the floor trying to get that bottom screw in, I realized that Step&Repeat is not as simple as it sounds. LOL!

About Us

We're Chelle & Crystal Roberts, two sisters with a melanin-infused perspective on travel. Our passion for travel, cultural connections, languages & great deals is insatiable. And, our mission is to inspire others, particularly women like us, to travel more frequently and further outside their comfort zones. Learn more about us.